Rise1 Spotlight: Kikyo

Thursday, November 10, 2016 sees the debut event of RISE: Developing Tomorrow’s Women Athletes. 40 up and coming women will descend on the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, Illinois to partake in a world class development seminar Participants will learn from former SHIMMER Champion Sweet Saraya Knight and Colt Cabana while vying for the opportunity to compete on RISE 1: Ignite later that evening.

I had the opportunity to visit with one of the women vying for a spot on the IGNITE card, The Fallen Flower Kikyo, about her career and the inaugural RISE event.

Scott: Could you give our readers a little bit of information about yourself? Where are you from? Kikyo: I am from Sacramento, California.Scott: Where do, or have, you trained? Kikyo: I have trained with North American Wrestling in under Mike Rayne aka James C of Hoodslam in Fresno, Ca, Pro Wrestling Bushido under Bobby Hart in Modesto, Ca, and Supreme Pro Wrestling under Cjay Kurz fka Dante & Virgil Flynn III of Global Force Wrestling & Hoodslam in Sacramento, CA.Scott: How long have you been involved in wrestling?Kikyo: I started training in March of 2009. From August of 2010 to December of 2011 I took a break for personal reasons and returned to the ring full time in February of 2012.Scott: Where have you worked (and titles held)? Kikyo: I have worked in Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, California and Mexicali, Mexico. I currently hold the Lady Luck Championship for Gold Rush Pro Wrestling in Pacifica, CA. Some of the dozens of companies I have worked for include Freakshow Wrestling and Future Stars of Wrestling in Las Vegas, NV, All Pro Wrestling in Daly City, CA, Alternative Wrestling Show in South Gate, CA, Arena Nacionalista in Mexicali, Mexico, Best of the West in Fresno, CA and Pro Wrestling Revolution in San Jose, CA. I am a former Gateway Grand Prix Sapphire Champion and a former Power Precision Pro Wrestling Vegas Vixens Champion.

Scott: What made you decide to start training to become a professional wrestler?Kikyo: I’ve been watching wrestling for as long as I can remember. My parents and grandparents watched wrestling, so I grew up with it as well. I remember throwing couch cushions onto the ground and jumping off the couch onto them pretending to be a wrester. I was bullied all my life for being a girl who liked wrestling and wanted to be a wrestler. I wrestled for a year in high school to prepare for professional wrestling because I knew that it helped Kurt Angle when he transitioned over. I was sitting on the couch at 19 years old and thought to myself, you know, I’ve always said that I was going to be a pro wrestler so why am I just sitting on the couch? I did a search online and the rest is history.

Scott: In your #YG2, You’ve Got Two, video, you mentioned being a road warrior, travelling all over to wrestle. Between that and being based in California, how has that impacted your career.Kikyo: The west coast hasn’t been very well known for its wrestlers unless you live in southern California. I made a name for myself in 2015 as being one of the most well traveled wrestlers in California because whether I was carpooling or taking Greyhound/Amtrak, I made sure that I always got where I needed to go. I wrestled around 75 matches that year because of my hustle. Promoters now know me as someone who is reliable and will always bust my butt to be there and put on a good show for their crowd.

Scott: So far in your career, who has been your favorite opponent? Why?Kikyo: By far my favorite opponents have to be Nicole Savoy and Brittany Wonder. They both force me to step up my game and push me past my comfort zone because they know I can do more than what I think I can do. Every time I step into the ring with those women, you’re going to have a 5 star match.

Scott: Let’s talk about RISE. The seminar and show, RISE 1: Ignite, has been created by Kevin Harvey to Develop Tomorrow’s Women Athletes. What do you hope to get out of this experience?Kikyo: The feedback that I’ve already gotten before even arriving at RISE has been amazing. I’ve gotten more out of just conversing back and forth with management due to having to cut the promos than I ever expected to get. I’m hoping to make some great connections and to absorb absolutely everything that Colt and Saraya have to offer because I know they have amazing minds for this business. If anything, I want to much fun as I can while also kicking as much butt as possible.

Scott: In the spirit of developing talent for the future, where are some of the places that you would like to start working (i.e. any particular promotions, tours of other countries, etc)?Kikyo: I would love to go to Japan, Canada and Australia. Shimmer and Shine have always been at the top of the list for companies to work for as well as Beyond Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, and anywhere else where I can wrestle the best.

Scott: One of the RISE online competitions was the #MOMC, Match of My Career, and you submitted a match against Brittany Wonder from June 2016. What was it about that match that made you select it for the contest?Kikyo: The match I chose for Match of My Career took place at Phoenix Pro Wrestling in Petaluma, CA. It was, at the time, for the vacant Gold Rush Lady Luck Championship which had been done so due to Thunder Rosa’s injury. Like I had previously mentioned, Brittany Wonder helps to elevate me when it comes to stepping into the ring. Winning that title and having that match completely set everything in motion for the future that you see happening now.

Scott: A group of participants will be selected for the RISE1: IGNITE show. Why should you be selected to compete?Kikyo: Why should I be selected to compete? I should be selected to compete because you would be crazy NOT to select The Fallen Flower to compete. I am deceivingly quick and scarily strong. You are always guaranteed to see something insane when I step through the ropes.

Scott: Is there anything you would like to say to the other girls, one of whom you may wrestle on the IGNITE show?Kikyo: Good luck, you’re gonna need it. I’d start following the flowers now; otherwise you’ll get left behind.